2010 MotoGP Qatar Results

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Valentino Rossi took the first win of the 2010 season, ruining Casey Stoner's winning streak at the Losail circuit.

Valentino Rossi spoiled rival Casey Stoner’s three-race winning streak at the Losail circuit, with The Doctor taking the win at the 2010 MotoGP season opener. Actually, it was Stoner who spoiled his own winning streak, as the Australian ace dumped his Desmosedici GP10 on Lap 5 while in the lead. Rossi took the checkers ahead of Fiat Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, with Andrea Dovizioso taking third – the Repsol Honda rider just beating American Nicky Hayden for the final podium position.

Dani Pedrosa jumped out to the early lead of the 22-lap race, with the Spaniard snaring the holeshot ahead of Rossi. Hayden slotted into third, with Stoner fourth. Rossi and Pedrosa jostled for position up front in the opening lap. Stoner found his pace, however, and soon got around his teammate, Hayden, and then Rossi, waiting until the end of Lap 2 to make his move on Pedrosa down the finish straight and blowing by in Turn 1.

Casey Stoner's four-race winning streak fell apart when the Australian pitched his Ducati in the opening laps while leading the race and looking untouchable for the win.

Pedrosa ran strong in second, with Rossi in third followed by Hayden and Dovizioso. Lorenzo, meanwhile, lingered back in sixth followed by American Ben Spies running in seventh.

On Lap 5 Stoner was two seconds ahead, with Rossi and Hayden both dispatching Pedrosa, who would soon face a challenge from his teammate, Dovizioso. That’s when the unthinkable happened and Stoner tossed away his lead and Ducati (and perhaps the title) in Turn 4.

That was all Rossi needed, with #46 tucking in and fending off the charge of the second factory Ducati, his 2006 championship nemesis, Hayden. A patient Lorenzo took his turn passing Pedrosa, looking ahead at the front three. As for Pedrosa, the Repsol Honda rider faded after his impressive start, with Spies and Randy de Puniet soon challenging the Spaniard for a spot in the top five.

Hayden kept Rossi in his sights, three tenths back, nipping closer to the Yamaha. But at the end of Lap 8 Dovizioso got around Hayden, while Lorenzo maintained fourth and Pedrosa clinged onto fifth. Meanwhile, there was more trouble for Ducati as the Pramac team’s Alex Esparago retired from the race, limping into the pits. It was the third Duc to earn the dreaded DNF, the other Pramac rider, Mika Kallio, having crashed out of the race in the opening laps even before Stoner’s early exit.

American Spies pushed through into fifth on Lap 9, with Pedrosa and the Texan trading positions on the finish straight. Elbowz would seal the top-five pace, as De Puniet showed up the factory-equipped Pedrosa by passing on his LCR mount.

Ben Spies got his rookie MotoGP campaign off to a very positive start with a solid top-five finish. Meanwile, Lorenzo lingered in fourth for much of the race before a hard charge in the final laps pushed him into second.

Spies’s top-five pace complemented teammate Colin Edwards, who worked ahead into eighth. While Edwards was leading a pack well off the pace, his move put three Americans in the top eight, with Spies fifth and Hayden third. Meanwhile, Rossi maintained a healthy gap over Dovizioso, with Hayden pressuring the Honda.

Rossi, winner of 77 GPs, was looking good for one more – as Dovizioso and Hayden kept the defending champ within their reach. At seven to go Dovizioso nipped on Rossi’s heels, the Honda looking strong on the straight, pulling ahead of the Ducati and seeming to gain on the Yamaha. The next lap, Dovi made the move on the straight at more than 200 mph, with Rossi forced to overtake on the brakes in Turn 1.

At five to go it was Hayden’s turn to make a move, passing Dovizioso before the Honda once again powered by on the front straight. As the duo contested second, Lorenzo and Spies lurked back in fourth and fifth, a podium finish within their grasp. As for Rossi, the Fiat Yamaha ace put the hammer down and opened up a gap, his win all but assured.

Gaining significant ground in the closing laps, Lorenzo first took aim at Hayden and then Dovizioso, passing both challengers on the penultimate lap. Hayden then made a play for the podium on the final lap. The Kentucky Kid got around Dovizioso, but the Honda rider caught the Ducati at the line by a scant 0.011 - the two side-by-side at the checkered flag.

Andrea Dovizioso (above) proved the top Honda rider on the day, taking a hard-fought podium in third. Randy de Puniet (below) was the second-best Honda at Qatar, the LCR pilot showing up Dovizioso's factory teammate, Dani Pedrosa.

The two Fiat Yamahas celebrated the first of what is certain to not be last 1-2 result for the Factory Yamaha squad. Dovizioso’s third-place finish spoiled a confidence-boosting podium for Hayden, who finished fourth. Spies completed the top five just two seconds adrift of Hayden, an encouraging start to his GP career and the highest-finishing rookie.

De Puniet held sixth, ahead of Pedrosa, who sunk back to more than 16 seconds off the leader’s pace. Edwards took eighth, leading a group that included Loris Capirossi, the Rizla Suzuki rider celebrating his 300th GP with a ninth-place finish. Interwetten Honda rider Hiroshi Aoyama rounded out the top ten, the second-highest finishing rookie.

The GP circuit now takes a week break before Round 2 at the Motegi circuit in Japan. Rossi holds a five-point lead over his teammate, with Stoner looking to make up on the mammoth 25-point deficit.

Shoya Tomizawa claimed the inaugural Moto2 victory, the Japanese pilot's first career GP win.

Moto2

Shoya Tomizawa claimed the first-ever Moto2 Grand Prix victory under the lights of Qatar. The Japanese rider took the win ahead of Alex Debon and Jules Cluzel. Former MotoGP pilot, Toni Elias, scored a fourth-place finish on the Gresini Honda Moto2 entry, while Roberto Rolfo rounded out the top-five at Losail.

Tomizawa started from ninth on the grid, with his surprising win the first of his GP career. The Technomag-CIP rider benefited from numerous incidents and crashes that took out many of the front-runners, including a first lap highside that claimed both Alex de Angelis and Stefan Bradl. Other significant riders unable to finish the inaugural Moto2 race included Yuki Takahashi, Julian Simon and Anthony West.

American Kenny Noyes earned an 18th-place result for his Jack & Jones by Anotio Banderas team (yes, the actor Antonio Banderas).

Jorge Lorenzo has been a force in MotoGP since his 2008 debut, becoming one of the most dominant Grand Prix riders in the paddock with his 2010 and 2012 MotoGP championship victories. Find out more about Jorge Lorenzo by checking out Motorcycle USA's Jorge Lorenzo page for career highlights, a complete bio, and racing pictures.

Starting from humble dirt track beginnings at the age of four, Nicky Hayden has captured many titles including a MotoGP championship. Check out Motorcycle USA's Nicky Hayden page for highlights, videos, and Nicky Hayden biography.

A 250GP star, Dani Pedrosa has been a consistent title contender througout his young MotoGP career, campaigning from Day 1 for the factory Repsol Honda team. Read more about the Spanish rider on the Dani Pedrosa bio page.

A World Superbike Champion and Yamaha MotoGP veteran, Colin Edwards has been dubbed by many as the "Texas Tornado." Read more about MotoGP rider Colin Edwards in MotorcycleUSA's Colin Edwards Rider Bio.

Andrea Dovizioso has been steadily progressing in MotoGP after a solid run in the 250 ranks. Not as hyped as some, the Italian returns now rides for Ducati alongside teammate Cal Crutchlow. Read more on the Andrea Dovizioso bio page.

The 2009 World Supersport Champion, Cal Crutchlow, is making the transition to the MotoGP series after a successful campaign in the World Superbike Championship. Read more about the British rider on Crutchlow's bio page.

parker
-Rossi - Overrated
April 27, 2010 07:47 AM
Stoner should have won the race without really any contention, the fact that he crashed still doesn't overshadow that Rossi simply couldn't keep pace with Stoner Practice, Qualifying or race pace. If Stoner can get his butt in gear to actually FINISH a race he'll win the title again.

Spies did extremely well for being in his first GP race, and he definitely looks comfortable on his M1. Rossi watch out. The new DOG is in town!

Now here's the real and only futur contender to Rossi..... He's ridding the satellite team bike, and got it in 5th in front of other factory team, and the rest of the field.... If Lorenzo wouldn't of ahd a contract, SPies would of been pushing Rossi for the win, and problably, Rossi would be chasing Spies......

Jed
-Hail to the King
April 18, 2010 05:08 PM
Rossi is amazing. He has skill, timing and intelligence on the bike and it shows.

Stoner won a championship but only on a bike that was way faster than anyone elses.

Im an Aussie, Stoner is a good rider but stop comparing him to Rossi, its laughable.

Dave Mazz
-Fuel Economy
April 17, 2010 12:57 AM
Yeh, I'm Rossi fan!! The guys a true artist on a MotoGP bike. But I still wonder, was his running outta gas a couple hundred yards *after* crossing the finish line at Qatar....instead of a couple hundred yards *before* crossing it, a matter of superb fuel management during the last third of the race....or mostly luck??

Rock
-The Doctor is in the house...and who the hell is C. Stoner?
April 13, 2010 09:44 AM
The Aussie from "down under" is what he got literally…down in the gravel pit.

I'm no fan of C. Stone, never was and never will, rider wise. Although he is a decent rider, he's racing resume is not even in the ball park to Rossi's career in this sports. Look, if Stoner can jump on a least developed Moto GP bike in the Moto GP grid, (Which will never happen) and bring home the championship in his first year, maybe he can be considered "Hey, the kid got talent". But to say he is as good as Rossi (Which will never happen) is nonsensical.

Once a snot nosed kid who was riding 250 GP, who use to crash a lot, and then gets a chance to ride the premier class and all of sudden he's compared with Rossi? You Stoner fans have been smoking a lot. Stoner's talent is only good as when his Duc performs at a 100 percent. Learning is a good thing and Stoner has long way to go. He also knows who the best and that's Rossi. You Stone fans needs to know that also.

edawg
-Speed HD - AWESOME!
April 13, 2010 07:17 AM
The HD coverage on Speed was absolutely awesome! It was almost creepy being able to see the riders faces.

Now, if only Speed would pick up WSBK on HD....

x2468
-great race
April 12, 2010 07:55 PM
great race, was great to see Nicky up there again and to see Ben doing well. But even better was the coverage on SPEED!!! crystal clear images! plus live coverage! First time I could see the shine on the bikes like that

Mcguire
-sewer rat
April 12, 2010 03:51 PM
Class act. If you give Rossi an inch he'll take a race. He's the best Ive seen and I remember Roberts and Ago.

Gordon
-Yamaha's Top End?
April 12, 2010 03:17 PM
If the revs were turned down, how did Rossi run out of fuel on the slowing down lap? Great race- Spies will win a race or 2 this year....great rides from Nicky & Dovi too....

unonymous
-valentino fans make me laugh
April 12, 2010 12:46 PM
i love how you valentino fans get your feathers ruffled so easily when somebody mentions that another rider might have a chance at the title.

so in your opinion, valentino is so effing good that they might as well quit racing for the rest of the season because he's going to win everything anyway? opinions are like assholes. everybody's got one.

might i remind you that valentino has been beaten TWICE. he's no god. i agree that he's quite good, but beatable nonetheless.

"unonymous - Dear Casey"
-what are you thinking?
April 12, 2010 10:35 AM
The thought that Casey Stoner is giving Valentino anything is preposterous; some people might not like Valentino Rossi, but he has proven that he is the best motorcycle racer on the planet over years of consistancy being great. I think Stoner is brilliant, but it will take more than one year of being champion to be on the same level as Rossi.

unonymous
-Dear Casey,
April 12, 2010 09:49 AM
Dear Casey,

Please stop crashing the bike. You'll hand Valentino another championship and probably lose your ride if you end up with a bunch of DNFs this season.

Your friend,unonymous (and every other Ducati fan in the world)

Jaybond
-engine
April 11, 2010 08:15 PM
Pardon, 1 engine per 3 races

KT
-Stoner
April 11, 2010 07:33 PM
Great start to the season. What's this new trend with Stoner trashin his ride at races he's almost certain to win??? During the last race of the 09 season, he was fastest in practice, qualifiying, and on pole again for the race but highsided during the warm up lap... Woooooooow...

Jaybond
-Yamaha's top end
April 11, 2010 06:28 PM
Probably Yamaha was quite cautious about tuning its top end, given the 1-engine-per-6 races rule this year.Bear in mind that,last year Yamaha factory bikes had already match Ducatis top speed.I think Yamaha will only react drastically on its top end, if the factory bikes started to lose out several races, due to the top speed alone. It's got to be interesting to see the engine reliability of MotoGP bikes this year..

dew
-honda?
April 11, 2010 05:29 PM
Honda, I dont know your strategy was. but one thing guaranteed, you'll never win moto GP as long as three best rider in earth joining yamaha

VinceXB
-SPIES!
April 11, 2010 04:37 PM
Spies rode strong in his first full time MotoGP event. He probably won't contend for the championship, but he should find himself on the podium more than once this year.

conda_jr
-rosi
April 11, 2010 04:30 PM
go rossi go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lou
-rossi
April 11, 2010 03:23 PM
I guess the doctor is still hungry,for those who say he is done I DO NOT THINK SO!!!as they say work to do son

Fonzy
-Great
April 11, 2010 03:18 PM
Great race to start the season go Yamaha! (got to work on the top end). Ben we knew you had it in you

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